The Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume IX, No. 4 [‎184v] (39/172)

362
THE FIRST CROSSING OF SPITSBERGEN.
as it proved, coming down upon Verlegen Hook. We feared that our
eastward way was to be thus early closed, and our hopes sank rapidly.
Between the point of the ice-cape and Yerlegen Hook there was, how
ever, a way by which, with tortuous navigation in and out amongst
drift ice, we were enabled to reach open water once more. It stretched
away to the northward further than we could see, so we steamed on
again north-east by north, hoping to get round to the north of the Seven
islands. There was a chance, almost a probability, that the pack which
was rapidly coming down would beset Yerlegen Hook before our return
but we decided to risk it and push forward.
A westward-bound sloop came in sight. We hailed her, and learnt
that she had been hunting to the eastward of Outger Reps island, where
a fortnight before all had been open water. The pack driving down
had forced her to quit that region. Already, her skipper said, the pack
was down on the Seven islands. Six hours’ steaming carried us to 80° 39'
(Walden bearing east-south-east), where we found the pack again, stretch
ing across to Table island. So we ran for Walden, of whose geological
structure nothing had previously been recorded (I believe), and landed
on its east side. Our ice-master, Bottolfsen, had served the Wellman
expedition in the same capacity. With him we visited the ruins of
Wellmans hut. We climbed about the weather-worn rock, and had
striking views of the cloud-covered Parry’s island and its neighbours,
and away to the east as far as Cape Platen. Ice-blink showed all round
to the east, and the edge of the pack was visible at no great distance.
e sea where Phipps vessels had so narrow an escape, and where young
^ elson encountered the bear, was still quite ice-free. Nothing could
exceed the desolation of the view in all directions, but especially to the
south where a heavy pall of cloud lay on the inland ice-sheet of North-
s i was opeless, in our little iron boat, to try and push eastward,
we ran back to Yerlegen Hook, and found that a strong south wind was
eepmg open water off that important-point; so we changed our plans
once more, and decided to run down Hinloopen strait and see whether
we could circumnavigate the main island. Some writer The lowest of the four classes into which East India Company civil servants were divided. A Writer’s duties originally consisted mostly of copying documents and book-keeping. has told of the
T) “ e .“° Un + tainS + t t b ° rder this P assa S e - 1 wished to see them, and, if
eX g 80 T record of them - As a matter of fact > the y d ° not
striking X ar6 ° n ^ wa ^‘^ aced plateau fronts of rock, in no respect
is tamtffrn y0U ,?" le C ; l0Se undei them - 80 the scenery of the strait
Darison ^ 40 “ ' 8ideS “ d i8l “ ds very low in com
parison with the width of the channel.
that, herd f 103 * -ateresting object seen was the great glacier front
Hook to r? the , W “ tke strait for over 20 miles from Hecla
New Friesland promontory 8 fiff ^ ‘ h6 ® h6et ° fthat covers the
hardlv anv fl f fifteen hours run, during which we saw
J J ating me, except a few pieces fallen from the glaciers.